Can you get kicked out of school because of criminal charges?

On Behalf of | Feb 18, 2021 | Criminal Defense

If you’re like most young adults, there will be times when you go out to parties, bars or events with friends and acquaintances. It’s important to make sure that you take care of yourself when you’re there and to be sure you don’t do anything that breaks the law. If you do, you could face more than criminal charges alone.

Something you should be worried about is the impact of a criminal charge, and potential conviction, on your schooling. Depending on your college’s student handbook and policies, you may find that your school will no longer allow you to remain enrolled there if you are convicted of a crime. You may be required to report the offense and arrest, and you could end up losing scholarships or federal aid.

Do schools look into your criminal history before you can attend?

Not all college or universities pull background checks on their potential students, but most do. Around 66% of colleges collect criminal justice information about your convictions and arrests. That information isn’t always used to decide if you will be able to enroll in the school, but it could be. So, even if you are already enrolled, it’s likely that this information will be pulled the next semester. If you don’t report an offense, then the school may find out that way and suspend you, penalize you, take you out of a specific program or club, or stop you from enrolling for the next semester.

If you end up with a conviction, will you have to end your college career?

Not always. Though there may be penalties, many schools still allow students to enroll despite past criminal convictions. However, you may be limited in which fields you can enter into, and you may find that it is much harder to get financial support from the government or the school.

For this reason, it’s smart to defend yourself the moment you know that you face trouble with the law. By having your attorney on board from the start, you’ll be able to give yourself the best chance of avoiding penalties that could impact your college career.

Watch how we can help you with your legal situation

Archives

Do You Have a Defense?

Do You Have a Defense?

Avvo Clients' Choice 2018 Criminal Defense    Avvo Clients' Choice 2018 Criminal Defense

Charles Waechter | Lawyer.com Premium
FindLaw Network